Ian Dawson's Blog, page 14
January 20, 2023
Writing Tip of the Week: Know Your Audience
Who are you writing for? It sounds like a funny question, but whatever novel, screenplay, play, or poetry you’re working on has an intended target audience.
Whether you realize it yet, or not.
So, how do you figure out who this invisible audience is? How do you stay true to yourself and your creative process while ensuring these individuals buy what you’re selling?
Let’s talk about it.
Something to Think About
The suggestions below should be considered before you’ve started writing your manuscript. That way, you can craft the narrative toward a specific audience easier, and not have to make drastic changes after the fact.
What’s Your Genre?
Walk into any bookstore and look at the headings above each section. Where would your story fit in as you look at the categories and peruse the book covers and titles? Do the blurbs on the back of the books match the vibe of your story?
You know your story better than anyone, so you should know what category or categories your story falls into. Is it a mystery? Horror? Romance? Young Adult? Even if you are mixing genres, one dominates over the other. Which one can you see your story being described as?
Who Reads That?
If you know your genre or genres, you can figure out your story’s demographic. Are you writing mainstream fiction that will be accessible to all readers? Are you in a niche audience with a unique and specific following? Is your story for a particular age group, like children, middle schoolers, or young adults?
Knowing these things can help you shift your story more toward your target demographic, especially if it’s geared toward a specific age group or readership.
What Can and Can’t I Get Away With?
Once you know your genre and target audience, I strongly recommend reading books that cover those categories and discovering what they can and can’t include in their stories. All genres have rules and tropes that readers expect, so it’s essential to keep the reader on your side and give them what they want in a slightly different package.
If you are writing for kids or young adults, be aware of what’s acceptable and unacceptable in these stories. While I know there has been a cultural shift lately in what content some schools allow and others don’t. As a writer, you need to understand these rules and know what you can and can’t include for this particular demographic.
If you know someone who loves your genre, give them your manuscript and get their feedback. This can help you gauge if you nailed the genre and target demographic and if they have any suggestions about what to add or cut.
Final Thoughts
No matter what you’re writing, it’s crucial to understand the genre and audience you hope will someday read or produce your work. Researching, reading other books or scripts in your genre, and knowing what content is acceptable and not in your chosen genre can help you find readers and, hopefully, a dedicated following.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
Whether you realize it yet, or not.
So, how do you figure out who this invisible audience is? How do you stay true to yourself and your creative process while ensuring these individuals buy what you’re selling?
Let’s talk about it.
Something to Think About
The suggestions below should be considered before you’ve started writing your manuscript. That way, you can craft the narrative toward a specific audience easier, and not have to make drastic changes after the fact.
What’s Your Genre?
Walk into any bookstore and look at the headings above each section. Where would your story fit in as you look at the categories and peruse the book covers and titles? Do the blurbs on the back of the books match the vibe of your story?
You know your story better than anyone, so you should know what category or categories your story falls into. Is it a mystery? Horror? Romance? Young Adult? Even if you are mixing genres, one dominates over the other. Which one can you see your story being described as?
Who Reads That?
If you know your genre or genres, you can figure out your story’s demographic. Are you writing mainstream fiction that will be accessible to all readers? Are you in a niche audience with a unique and specific following? Is your story for a particular age group, like children, middle schoolers, or young adults?
Knowing these things can help you shift your story more toward your target demographic, especially if it’s geared toward a specific age group or readership.
What Can and Can’t I Get Away With?
Once you know your genre and target audience, I strongly recommend reading books that cover those categories and discovering what they can and can’t include in their stories. All genres have rules and tropes that readers expect, so it’s essential to keep the reader on your side and give them what they want in a slightly different package.
If you are writing for kids or young adults, be aware of what’s acceptable and unacceptable in these stories. While I know there has been a cultural shift lately in what content some schools allow and others don’t. As a writer, you need to understand these rules and know what you can and can’t include for this particular demographic.
If you know someone who loves your genre, give them your manuscript and get their feedback. This can help you gauge if you nailed the genre and target demographic and if they have any suggestions about what to add or cut.
Final Thoughts
No matter what you’re writing, it’s crucial to understand the genre and audience you hope will someday read or produce your work. Researching, reading other books or scripts in your genre, and knowing what content is acceptable and not in your chosen genre can help you find readers and, hopefully, a dedicated following.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
January 18, 2023
Writing Exercise: Silencing Your Inner Critic
Everyone has an inner monologue that lives inside their head 24/7. Sometimes it can be a strong motivator that helps you accomplish great things and summon up the courage to make things happen.
But, like all things in the world, there’s a dark side to this voice. The critical side. The side that talks you out of doing things. The side that tells you that you can’t do it. You aren’t good enough, smart enough, or creative enough.
I hate that side of my inner voice, and I’m sure you do, too.
The exterior world can seem like a constant assault of negativity, pessimism, hate, and evil. We are inundated by it in the news, on social media, on TV shows, and by people we encounter daily. So it’s no surprise that this inner voice turns against us when the world seems determined to take us down and make us give up.
It’s time to turn that around.
I’m not a psychologist, but I do believe we can take steps to silence this inner critic and accomplish our creative goals.
Dear Diary…
Your inner critic has one goal: to create doubts in your head that prevent you from being creative. It’s an insidious creature with zero regards for you or your well-being.
Fight against it by writing about it. Fight fire with fire.
Have a journal, pen and paper, a Notes page on your phone ready to use when that evil inner voice comes a-callin’.
Write down what it’s telling you, then write something positive that contradicts what it’s saying. Keep writing, and writing, doing the opposite of what it’s trying to prevent you from doing.
Then close the journal, turn over the paper, close the Notes app, and return to work.
By writing about your inner critic, you take away some of its power. As you continue this practice, the intention is for the inner critic to pop up less. In turn, the journaling should diminish over time so that when you begin to create, your mind is open and free to do so.
Make the inner voice afraid of you and your power over it.
Fight Back
If you don’t want to journal but still want that voice to shut itself up, don’t let it get to you. Ignore it by continuing to write, perform, or create, giving it no power or control over your mind.
Its goal is to get you to stop your creative endeavor, so whatever you can do to fight through that temptation, do so. It may be a challenge at first, but your creativity will strengthen daily, and your inner critic will weaken as you ignore its taunts. Keep moving forward on whatever creative project you’re working on, and don’t stop.
Talk Over It
If you’re a writer, you have the power of words at your fingertips. Your words. Your story or poetry. Start talking when that critical demon rears its ugly head, luring you toward the rocks of pessimism and negativity.
Read your work out loud. Talk and talk and talk until you’ve exorcised that inner critic and sent it back to the depths of darkness where it rightfully belongs.
As you read, if you get to the end of your writing, start writing more and reading it aloud. Keep that momentum until that inner critic has disappeared, and you can return to writing with a clear, unobstructed imagination.
Final Thoughts
You have something to say. Your inner critic doesn’t, and shouldn’t, have the power to stop you. By taking active steps to silence it, you will see your creativity and productivity increase, and you’ll get more accomplished in the long run.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
But, like all things in the world, there’s a dark side to this voice. The critical side. The side that talks you out of doing things. The side that tells you that you can’t do it. You aren’t good enough, smart enough, or creative enough.
I hate that side of my inner voice, and I’m sure you do, too.
The exterior world can seem like a constant assault of negativity, pessimism, hate, and evil. We are inundated by it in the news, on social media, on TV shows, and by people we encounter daily. So it’s no surprise that this inner voice turns against us when the world seems determined to take us down and make us give up.
It’s time to turn that around.
I’m not a psychologist, but I do believe we can take steps to silence this inner critic and accomplish our creative goals.
Dear Diary…
Your inner critic has one goal: to create doubts in your head that prevent you from being creative. It’s an insidious creature with zero regards for you or your well-being.
Fight against it by writing about it. Fight fire with fire.
Have a journal, pen and paper, a Notes page on your phone ready to use when that evil inner voice comes a-callin’.
Write down what it’s telling you, then write something positive that contradicts what it’s saying. Keep writing, and writing, doing the opposite of what it’s trying to prevent you from doing.
Then close the journal, turn over the paper, close the Notes app, and return to work.
By writing about your inner critic, you take away some of its power. As you continue this practice, the intention is for the inner critic to pop up less. In turn, the journaling should diminish over time so that when you begin to create, your mind is open and free to do so.
Make the inner voice afraid of you and your power over it.
Fight Back
If you don’t want to journal but still want that voice to shut itself up, don’t let it get to you. Ignore it by continuing to write, perform, or create, giving it no power or control over your mind.
Its goal is to get you to stop your creative endeavor, so whatever you can do to fight through that temptation, do so. It may be a challenge at first, but your creativity will strengthen daily, and your inner critic will weaken as you ignore its taunts. Keep moving forward on whatever creative project you’re working on, and don’t stop.
Talk Over It
If you’re a writer, you have the power of words at your fingertips. Your words. Your story or poetry. Start talking when that critical demon rears its ugly head, luring you toward the rocks of pessimism and negativity.
Read your work out loud. Talk and talk and talk until you’ve exorcised that inner critic and sent it back to the depths of darkness where it rightfully belongs.
As you read, if you get to the end of your writing, start writing more and reading it aloud. Keep that momentum until that inner critic has disappeared, and you can return to writing with a clear, unobstructed imagination.
Final Thoughts
You have something to say. Your inner critic doesn’t, and shouldn’t, have the power to stop you. By taking active steps to silence it, you will see your creativity and productivity increase, and you’ll get more accomplished in the long run.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
January 16, 2023
Writing Tip of the Week: Take the Brakes Off When Writing Your First Draft
When you sit down to write, do you find yourself self-censoring, second-guessing, or worrying about how a fictional group of people might view your work? Do these thoughts cause you anxiety, which creates a sense of creative paralysis that prevents you from writing, and instead, you run to your favorite streaming service to binge something safe and comforting?
It's time to end this madness in 2023.
Let's talk about it.
A Rough Draft is Your Playground
The initial draft of your work is for you and you alone. It's your playground to develop and hone ideas for your story, which means this is a no-fear zone. It also means that you shouldn't censor yourself, edit things you feel might offend a future reader, or fear what your third-grade teacher might think of you if they read something objectionable in your book.
This draft is your time to let it all out. Every crazy idea, line of dialogue, and over-the-top moment should be allowed to live in this space. You're the only person who will see these things and the only person who knows what will work and not work once you begin editing and working on the next draft.
Have fun with it without the fear of scrutiny, criticism, or being committed.
Don't Write to Appease Others
I've noticed this trend in Hollywood, where studios attempt to pander or target a specific demographic based on what people on social media demand they include in a film or TV show. The result is a product that isn't great because they have sacrificed creativity to appease a group of anonymous people.
You can't rely on social media to guide how you write, what you write, or how you might be perceived by faceless Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram accounts. If you are working on a story that may have content that could offend others, then that's the way it will be.
Attempting to make 8 billion people happy with your work is delusional. It will only result in your writing becoming neutered and mediocre. Don't allow that to happen. You have a story you want to tell; tell it your way.
Don’t Just Silence Your Inner Critic, Bury It!
Your rough/first draft is your time to play, and really enjoy the creative process. This is not the place to worry, overthink, or cast doubt about your material. That irritating voice inside our heads that wants to destroy our creative mojo must be stopped at all costs.
Fight it. Run from it. Push through and keep writing when it creeps into your thoughts. You can beat the inner critic by not letting it defeat you are you pound away at the keys or write your story down on paper. Your inner critic is your toughest foe when it comes to your creativity. Greater than any tweet, review, or feedback.
If you can fight against it and win, you can write more confidently. Those projects your inner critic has been preventing you from starting or completing will finally get out on the page. In turn, this will allow you to increase your productivity and output.
Don’t be your own worst enemy in the battle for creative autonomy. Fight back and make that inner critic wish they had never reared their ugly head!
Final Thoughts
Writing should be fun, and creating should be fun. We should feel zero restraint when delving into a rough story draft and feel free to go as outrageous as we feel. This also means being free to experiment with new ideas that may not make it past this stage but are worth exploring.
We shouldn’t allow ourselves to fall prey to what social media dictates: good and bad content. We should always follow our instincts about what works best for us and our story. You can’t please everyone.
Finally, do everything you can to fight and destroy your inner critic. It’s time for it to lose its control over you as a creative person.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
It's time to end this madness in 2023.
Let's talk about it.
A Rough Draft is Your Playground
The initial draft of your work is for you and you alone. It's your playground to develop and hone ideas for your story, which means this is a no-fear zone. It also means that you shouldn't censor yourself, edit things you feel might offend a future reader, or fear what your third-grade teacher might think of you if they read something objectionable in your book.
This draft is your time to let it all out. Every crazy idea, line of dialogue, and over-the-top moment should be allowed to live in this space. You're the only person who will see these things and the only person who knows what will work and not work once you begin editing and working on the next draft.
Have fun with it without the fear of scrutiny, criticism, or being committed.
Don't Write to Appease Others
I've noticed this trend in Hollywood, where studios attempt to pander or target a specific demographic based on what people on social media demand they include in a film or TV show. The result is a product that isn't great because they have sacrificed creativity to appease a group of anonymous people.
You can't rely on social media to guide how you write, what you write, or how you might be perceived by faceless Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram accounts. If you are working on a story that may have content that could offend others, then that's the way it will be.
Attempting to make 8 billion people happy with your work is delusional. It will only result in your writing becoming neutered and mediocre. Don't allow that to happen. You have a story you want to tell; tell it your way.
Don’t Just Silence Your Inner Critic, Bury It!
Your rough/first draft is your time to play, and really enjoy the creative process. This is not the place to worry, overthink, or cast doubt about your material. That irritating voice inside our heads that wants to destroy our creative mojo must be stopped at all costs.
Fight it. Run from it. Push through and keep writing when it creeps into your thoughts. You can beat the inner critic by not letting it defeat you are you pound away at the keys or write your story down on paper. Your inner critic is your toughest foe when it comes to your creativity. Greater than any tweet, review, or feedback.
If you can fight against it and win, you can write more confidently. Those projects your inner critic has been preventing you from starting or completing will finally get out on the page. In turn, this will allow you to increase your productivity and output.
Don’t be your own worst enemy in the battle for creative autonomy. Fight back and make that inner critic wish they had never reared their ugly head!
Final Thoughts
Writing should be fun, and creating should be fun. We should feel zero restraint when delving into a rough story draft and feel free to go as outrageous as we feel. This also means being free to experiment with new ideas that may not make it past this stage but are worth exploring.
We shouldn’t allow ourselves to fall prey to what social media dictates: good and bad content. We should always follow our instincts about what works best for us and our story. You can’t please everyone.
Finally, do everything you can to fight and destroy your inner critic. It’s time for it to lose its control over you as a creative person.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
January 13, 2023
Writing Tip of the Week: Your Story’s Opening Sentence
You’re finally ready. You’ve crafted a detailed outline for your story with compelling plot points, dimensional characters, and a twist-filled finale. Readers will be talking about it for weeks after finishing the book. You sit down in a comfortable chair, your computer at the ready. You’ve opened a new word processing file and saved it with a file name of your story’s title and the date you’re beginning this draft. Chapter One…
…
…
“How the heck do I start this thing!?” you yell to the sky.
Writing that first sentence for any story can be a daunting task. You want to entice the reader, bring them into the story’s world, and make them curious about what type of adventure they are about to embark on. How can you craft this perfect sentence that will keep the reader reading?
Let’s talk about it!
Experiment
You know your story, what the first chapter is about, what’s happening in those initial moments when the story begins, and what characters are present. Using the information, write 5 to 15 sentences that could be used as your story’s opening sentence.
Once you have a list, pick three you like and fine-tune them so they are compelling and can grab a reader’s attention.
Then, you can…
Test It Out
Ask friends, family, or coworkers which sentence grabs their attention and makes them want to read more. Don’t tell them about the story or characters; just have them read the three sentences you crafted and see which one grabs the most attention.
Use this information to decide what the opening sentence should be. If it’s a unanimous vote, that’s a good sign. If it’s mixed, ask people why they chose a particular sentence. Feedback is always helpful.
The Placeholder
Still stuck? Leave it for later and move on. Write the rest of chapter one, which will ignite a creative spark leading to the opening sentence. You can add something in brackets, like [Great opening sentence to go here!].
Remember, just because you can’t develop something solid now doesn’t mean you should stop writing. Keep going, and the sentence will eventually materialize.
Start Somewhere Else
If that opening sentence is too distracting, move to a section of the story you can focus on in the meantime. Working on the story and inhabiting its world can help you find that elusive opening.
Examples
For fun, I grabbed five random fiction books from my bookshelf to read their opening sentences. I present them below. Which ones caught your attention and made you want to read more?
[I will be using the first sentence of Chapter One and not from any Prologue.]
“Half an hour after Tim Jamieson’s Delta flight was scheduled to leave Tampa for the bright lights and tall buildings of New York, it was still parked at the gate.”
- The Institute by Stephen King
“The prophet was drowning men from Great Wyk when they came to tell him that the king was dead.”
– A Feast for Crows (Game of Thrones, Book #4) by George R.R. Martin
“When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton.”
– The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkein
“When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist.”
– Circe by Madeline Miller
“I spent the last afternoon of Before constructing a 1/10,000-scale replica of the Empire State Building from boxes of adult diapers.”
– Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Final Thoughts
Your story’s first sentence should grab the reader, but its initial absence shouldn’t keep you from writing. By brainstorming ideas, getting feedback from others, moving on without it, or looking at examples from other authors, you can craft an opening sentence that will bring readers in and keep them engaged.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
…
…
“How the heck do I start this thing!?” you yell to the sky.
Writing that first sentence for any story can be a daunting task. You want to entice the reader, bring them into the story’s world, and make them curious about what type of adventure they are about to embark on. How can you craft this perfect sentence that will keep the reader reading?
Let’s talk about it!
Experiment
You know your story, what the first chapter is about, what’s happening in those initial moments when the story begins, and what characters are present. Using the information, write 5 to 15 sentences that could be used as your story’s opening sentence.
Once you have a list, pick three you like and fine-tune them so they are compelling and can grab a reader’s attention.
Then, you can…
Test It Out
Ask friends, family, or coworkers which sentence grabs their attention and makes them want to read more. Don’t tell them about the story or characters; just have them read the three sentences you crafted and see which one grabs the most attention.
Use this information to decide what the opening sentence should be. If it’s a unanimous vote, that’s a good sign. If it’s mixed, ask people why they chose a particular sentence. Feedback is always helpful.
The Placeholder
Still stuck? Leave it for later and move on. Write the rest of chapter one, which will ignite a creative spark leading to the opening sentence. You can add something in brackets, like [Great opening sentence to go here!].
Remember, just because you can’t develop something solid now doesn’t mean you should stop writing. Keep going, and the sentence will eventually materialize.
Start Somewhere Else
If that opening sentence is too distracting, move to a section of the story you can focus on in the meantime. Working on the story and inhabiting its world can help you find that elusive opening.
Examples
For fun, I grabbed five random fiction books from my bookshelf to read their opening sentences. I present them below. Which ones caught your attention and made you want to read more?
[I will be using the first sentence of Chapter One and not from any Prologue.]
“Half an hour after Tim Jamieson’s Delta flight was scheduled to leave Tampa for the bright lights and tall buildings of New York, it was still parked at the gate.”
- The Institute by Stephen King
“The prophet was drowning men from Great Wyk when they came to tell him that the king was dead.”
– A Feast for Crows (Game of Thrones, Book #4) by George R.R. Martin
“When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton.”
– The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkein
“When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist.”
– Circe by Madeline Miller
“I spent the last afternoon of Before constructing a 1/10,000-scale replica of the Empire State Building from boxes of adult diapers.”
– Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Final Thoughts
Your story’s first sentence should grab the reader, but its initial absence shouldn’t keep you from writing. By brainstorming ideas, getting feedback from others, moving on without it, or looking at examples from other authors, you can craft an opening sentence that will bring readers in and keep them engaged.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
January 11, 2023
Writing Tip of the Week: The Nagging Idea
You think about it all the time. It replays in your head over and over and over again. It seeps into your thoughts in traffic, in a meeting, or in line at the store. And it won’t go away.
It’s a nagging idea. A story idea or a little snippet of a story that lives in your brain 24/7. You add to it, subtract from it, and fine-tune it, but it remains locked inside your head.
Time to let that nagging idea escape.
Let’s talk about it.
When in Doubt, Write it Out
The time has come to let your nagging idea find a new home. It’s time for you to write it down. Just sit down with a pad and paper or at a computer and write it out. It can be a seemingly incoherent mess at this stage, but you have to get it down on paper.
By doing this, other ideas may be linked to the initial thought. Suddenly you have a basic story idea, a character or two. The main thing is to give the idea space to breathe and roam free. Seeing it visually in front of you can go a long way to making the idea more than just a nagging thought in your head.
Talk About It
“So, I have this story idea…”
You can tell yourself about it when you’re alone or pitch the idea to a trusted friend or relative. Verbally expressing the idea can help gauge if it’s a solid concept or if it is just something your brain has become fixated on for no reason.
Talk it out, and if you like what you’re hearing, write it down.
Ideas Are Like Legos
Ideas are the building blocks of a complete story. Even if the nagging idea is a small piece of what could be a larger work, it should be given a chance to connect with other ideas. Think about the millions of ideas we encounter in films, tv, books, and podcasts. All of these started with someone having a small idea they added to, built upon, and eventually used to create a project now out in the world.
Final Thoughts
Ideas can come and go, but a nagging idea is worth paying attention to. By writing it out, talking it through, and building on it, you may be able to take a small idea that’s been living in your head and create something larger and more significant. Only when you decide to act upon that small idea can bigger things emerge.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
It’s a nagging idea. A story idea or a little snippet of a story that lives in your brain 24/7. You add to it, subtract from it, and fine-tune it, but it remains locked inside your head.
Time to let that nagging idea escape.
Let’s talk about it.
When in Doubt, Write it Out
The time has come to let your nagging idea find a new home. It’s time for you to write it down. Just sit down with a pad and paper or at a computer and write it out. It can be a seemingly incoherent mess at this stage, but you have to get it down on paper.
By doing this, other ideas may be linked to the initial thought. Suddenly you have a basic story idea, a character or two. The main thing is to give the idea space to breathe and roam free. Seeing it visually in front of you can go a long way to making the idea more than just a nagging thought in your head.
Talk About It
“So, I have this story idea…”
You can tell yourself about it when you’re alone or pitch the idea to a trusted friend or relative. Verbally expressing the idea can help gauge if it’s a solid concept or if it is just something your brain has become fixated on for no reason.
Talk it out, and if you like what you’re hearing, write it down.
Ideas Are Like Legos
Ideas are the building blocks of a complete story. Even if the nagging idea is a small piece of what could be a larger work, it should be given a chance to connect with other ideas. Think about the millions of ideas we encounter in films, tv, books, and podcasts. All of these started with someone having a small idea they added to, built upon, and eventually used to create a project now out in the world.
Final Thoughts
Ideas can come and go, but a nagging idea is worth paying attention to. By writing it out, talking it through, and building on it, you may be able to take a small idea that’s been living in your head and create something larger and more significant. Only when you decide to act upon that small idea can bigger things emerge.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
January 9, 2023
Book Review: Chasing Failure: How Falling Short Sets You Up for Success by Ryan Leak
Failure. It’s a concept that most people hate, and everyone tries to avoid it in their personal and professional lives. While most of us strive for success, we often do our best to circumvent any situation or outcome that could be seen as us failing at those attempts toward success.
But what if we did the opposite? What if we embraced failure instead of avoiding it? This is the premise of Ryan Leak’s book, Chasing Failure.
Leak presents to us that famous people many see as “overnight successes” actually struggled and grew through a series of failures that made them the person we know today. He makes it clear that the only real pathway to true success is filled with failures. Failure can make us better people and better at ultimately achieving our goals.
Chasing failure is an excellent idea for a New Year’s resolution since it encourages you to go for your goals even if there is the possibility of failure at the start. You’ll never know what you can achieve until you embark on the journey toward your goal, so why not take the opportunity to chase after it? Even if you stumble and fall on the first few tries, Leak explains that those missteps and failures contain valuable lessons that you can use to recalibrate and continue your journey toward your ultimate goal.
The author, Ryan Leak, also uses his personal stories about chasing failure when he tried out for the NBA. The methods he used, the failures he encountered, and the lessons he learned helped make him a better person and more courageous when setting out to achieve future goals.
Chasing Failure is a great book, a quick read. It is filled with encouragement for anyone afraid of the looming specter of failure. Leak’s solution is to laugh in failure’s face and not quit if it happens. Only by failing can one find the strength to succeed.
Grab a copy of Chasing Failure by Ryan Leak and learn more about the author at the link below:
https://www.ryanleak.com/chasingfailure
How can you embrace the concept of chasing failure when it comes to your creative goals in 2023?
But what if we did the opposite? What if we embraced failure instead of avoiding it? This is the premise of Ryan Leak’s book, Chasing Failure.
Leak presents to us that famous people many see as “overnight successes” actually struggled and grew through a series of failures that made them the person we know today. He makes it clear that the only real pathway to true success is filled with failures. Failure can make us better people and better at ultimately achieving our goals.
Chasing failure is an excellent idea for a New Year’s resolution since it encourages you to go for your goals even if there is the possibility of failure at the start. You’ll never know what you can achieve until you embark on the journey toward your goal, so why not take the opportunity to chase after it? Even if you stumble and fall on the first few tries, Leak explains that those missteps and failures contain valuable lessons that you can use to recalibrate and continue your journey toward your ultimate goal.
The author, Ryan Leak, also uses his personal stories about chasing failure when he tried out for the NBA. The methods he used, the failures he encountered, and the lessons he learned helped make him a better person and more courageous when setting out to achieve future goals.
Chasing Failure is a great book, a quick read. It is filled with encouragement for anyone afraid of the looming specter of failure. Leak’s solution is to laugh in failure’s face and not quit if it happens. Only by failing can one find the strength to succeed.
Grab a copy of Chasing Failure by Ryan Leak and learn more about the author at the link below:
https://www.ryanleak.com/chasingfailure
How can you embrace the concept of chasing failure when it comes to your creative goals in 2023?
January 6, 2023
Writing Tip of the Week: Follow That Outline!
Writing a story outline is a blessing and a curse. It's a blessing since you know where the story is going and don't have to worry or panic that you don't see how it will end. On the other hand, an outline can feel like it's stifling your creativity. You want to deviate, change course, or even cut a whole section that worked in your head and in the outline but fleshed out is lifeless and dull.
What to do, what to do.
For NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) last year, I drafted an outline to use as a roadmap to keep me focused and on track while I was working on my story. It wasn't perfect, but it gave me enough information and story points to keep me writing each day and staying focused on the story I was writing.
But, as I said in the opening, there were places where I could feel the air getting sucked out of the story. There were moments when the conflict or even story-based information vanished during the drafting process. I could even see while writing weaknesses in the story that I hadn't initially seen in just the outline.
So, let's look at ways to work through these problems to avoid bigger headaches in the later stages of your writing project.
OPTION #1: Lock in Your Outline BEFORE You Start
Make things easy on yourself, and outline exactly how you want the story to go. Revise, refine, read and re-read. Make sure the outline is bulletproof and everything you want to say and do with your story and characters is embedded in the outline.
By starting off on solid footing, you now have the confidence to jump in and get that draft done faster than you would if you were making things up as you go along.
OPTION #2: Stick to the Outline You Have Even if It's Not Working
This is the easiest solution. Maybe in subsequent drafts, you can cut or refine any rough patches that appear, but you have the story planned out from start to finish and want to get it done.
Living with the outline you have already completed will ensure you get to the story's end. It also will help you feel a sense of accomplishment for tackling that cumbersome first draft.
OPTION #3: The Page One Re-Write
Scrap the whole outline and start over. There may have been a few things you liked and plan to keep, but the rest is out, and you're starting fresh.
This is an effective solution if it's clear your story has more problems than rewrites and edits can fix. This will be a time-consuming process, so take your time with this outline and ensure the story works before you enter the drafting phase.
OPTION #4: Change as You Go
Another idea is to make changes to the story as you write your draft, using the outline as more of a reference than a hard-and-fast rulebook.
However, if you do this, make sure you're checking for consistency. If you start making significant changes later in the outline, go back and see if what you previously wrote fits in with what you're writing now. This could be anything from changing a character's appearance, location descriptions, or story points. Yes, these can be fixed later, but making sure they are fixed while still top-of-mind is less stressful later.
Final Thoughts
These are only a few suggestions for working off a story outline. If you notice yourself deviating way too much from the outline, take the time to figure out where the story is headed and how you want to end it.
Ideally, Option #1 is the best course of action. It may take longer to complete, but that will make the actual drafting process go smoother and faster in the long run.
While it is fun to let the Muse take over and decide the fate of your story and your characters, you may also want to get the story done in a timely manner. An outline can help you achieve your goal and move on to the next project.
Happy Writing, and I'll see you next time!
What to do, what to do.
For NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) last year, I drafted an outline to use as a roadmap to keep me focused and on track while I was working on my story. It wasn't perfect, but it gave me enough information and story points to keep me writing each day and staying focused on the story I was writing.
But, as I said in the opening, there were places where I could feel the air getting sucked out of the story. There were moments when the conflict or even story-based information vanished during the drafting process. I could even see while writing weaknesses in the story that I hadn't initially seen in just the outline.
So, let's look at ways to work through these problems to avoid bigger headaches in the later stages of your writing project.
OPTION #1: Lock in Your Outline BEFORE You Start
Make things easy on yourself, and outline exactly how you want the story to go. Revise, refine, read and re-read. Make sure the outline is bulletproof and everything you want to say and do with your story and characters is embedded in the outline.
By starting off on solid footing, you now have the confidence to jump in and get that draft done faster than you would if you were making things up as you go along.
OPTION #2: Stick to the Outline You Have Even if It's Not Working
This is the easiest solution. Maybe in subsequent drafts, you can cut or refine any rough patches that appear, but you have the story planned out from start to finish and want to get it done.
Living with the outline you have already completed will ensure you get to the story's end. It also will help you feel a sense of accomplishment for tackling that cumbersome first draft.
OPTION #3: The Page One Re-Write
Scrap the whole outline and start over. There may have been a few things you liked and plan to keep, but the rest is out, and you're starting fresh.
This is an effective solution if it's clear your story has more problems than rewrites and edits can fix. This will be a time-consuming process, so take your time with this outline and ensure the story works before you enter the drafting phase.
OPTION #4: Change as You Go
Another idea is to make changes to the story as you write your draft, using the outline as more of a reference than a hard-and-fast rulebook.
However, if you do this, make sure you're checking for consistency. If you start making significant changes later in the outline, go back and see if what you previously wrote fits in with what you're writing now. This could be anything from changing a character's appearance, location descriptions, or story points. Yes, these can be fixed later, but making sure they are fixed while still top-of-mind is less stressful later.
Final Thoughts
These are only a few suggestions for working off a story outline. If you notice yourself deviating way too much from the outline, take the time to figure out where the story is headed and how you want to end it.
Ideally, Option #1 is the best course of action. It may take longer to complete, but that will make the actual drafting process go smoother and faster in the long run.
While it is fun to let the Muse take over and decide the fate of your story and your characters, you may also want to get the story done in a timely manner. An outline can help you achieve your goal and move on to the next project.
Happy Writing, and I'll see you next time!
January 4, 2023
Writing Tip of the Week: Creative Confidence
While I was home over the holidays, I gave my mom the classic movie musical, The Sound of Music. As Maria (Julie Andrews) heads off to her new life to become the governess for the von Trapp children, she sings a song called “I Have Confidence.”
If you listen to the lyrics to the song, you will find that it’s a great motivator. This song encourages you to face your fears, take on new challenges, and dive headfirst into the unknown.
Check out the song in the clip below:
https://youtu.be/JJYz8pyXOG4
Being confident when it comes to your creativity and your creative ambitions can often be a daunting task. We’re surrounded by other peoples’ creative content all the time, so it can sometimes be overwhelming to think about throwing yourself into that great creative abyss.
We must remind ourselves that we have the ability, skill, and ambition to face our fears and any challenges that may come our way. We have the confidence to write that novel, sing that song, or perform that monologue.
Self-confidence regarding your creative ambitions is important and can help you fight self-doubt. Giving yourself the green light to create and permission to be confident in your abilities can be the difference between reaching your goals and allowing them to remain unfulfilled.
In the film, Maria has no clue what she’s walking into when she takes her new position, but the song allows her to psych herself up for the job ahead. You, too, can do this with your creative ambitions. Even if you don’t feel confident now, mentally put yourself in that space and allow that confidence to motivate you to work on your creative endeavors.
If you ever feel yourself faltering, I recommend listening to “I Have Confidence” or another song that can get you in the right mindset to be confident, creative, and get the work done.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
If you listen to the lyrics to the song, you will find that it’s a great motivator. This song encourages you to face your fears, take on new challenges, and dive headfirst into the unknown.
Check out the song in the clip below:
https://youtu.be/JJYz8pyXOG4
Being confident when it comes to your creativity and your creative ambitions can often be a daunting task. We’re surrounded by other peoples’ creative content all the time, so it can sometimes be overwhelming to think about throwing yourself into that great creative abyss.
We must remind ourselves that we have the ability, skill, and ambition to face our fears and any challenges that may come our way. We have the confidence to write that novel, sing that song, or perform that monologue.
Self-confidence regarding your creative ambitions is important and can help you fight self-doubt. Giving yourself the green light to create and permission to be confident in your abilities can be the difference between reaching your goals and allowing them to remain unfulfilled.
In the film, Maria has no clue what she’s walking into when she takes her new position, but the song allows her to psych herself up for the job ahead. You, too, can do this with your creative ambitions. Even if you don’t feel confident now, mentally put yourself in that space and allow that confidence to motivate you to work on your creative endeavors.
If you ever feel yourself faltering, I recommend listening to “I Have Confidence” or another song that can get you in the right mindset to be confident, creative, and get the work done.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
January 2, 2023
Writing Tip of the Week: It Costs Nothing to Create
Happy 2023! I hope everyone had a great holiday season and gave themselves some solid writing, reading, or other creative goals for the New Year.
Starting this week, I will post on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for the rest of the year.
So, let’s get started!
Creativity. For some people, it flows out of them like water over Niagara Falls. But even the most prolific creatives among us had to start from square one of their creative journeys.
They all had a Day Zero.
We’ve all been there. You may be there right now, deciding to work on your creative side this year by sitting down at a computer or with pen and paper to start your journey.
Whether you churn out novels as fast as James Patterson or you’re still outlining your first story, the concept of creativity is a free and consistently renewable resource.
And we all have the power to access it 24/7, 365 days a year.
Creativity begins with you. It starts with the ideas inside your mind and imagination, which are available to you without a monthly subscription or annual renewal notices.
Yes, creativity takes time, takes effort, takes energy. Still, the overarching results of tapping into your creative side to write, paint, perform, or sculpt can pay out much more significant benefits in the long run.
We think. We overthink, and we agonize and worry. We look at published novels and finished films and panic that we’ll never be at that level. But even those projects started with a free spark of creativity. A moment where someone said to themselves: “What If….”
Tonight, write something down. An idea that’s been racing around your brain like a caffeinated hamster. A creative endeavor you want to pursue in 2023 that you know you can accomplish if you dig in and focus on what needs to be done.
You have the power, the ability, and the freedom to create, and all it takes is a visit to the Free Library of Creativity inside your imagination.
Make it happen.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
Starting this week, I will post on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for the rest of the year.
So, let’s get started!
Creativity. For some people, it flows out of them like water over Niagara Falls. But even the most prolific creatives among us had to start from square one of their creative journeys.
They all had a Day Zero.
We’ve all been there. You may be there right now, deciding to work on your creative side this year by sitting down at a computer or with pen and paper to start your journey.
Whether you churn out novels as fast as James Patterson or you’re still outlining your first story, the concept of creativity is a free and consistently renewable resource.
And we all have the power to access it 24/7, 365 days a year.
Creativity begins with you. It starts with the ideas inside your mind and imagination, which are available to you without a monthly subscription or annual renewal notices.
Yes, creativity takes time, takes effort, takes energy. Still, the overarching results of tapping into your creative side to write, paint, perform, or sculpt can pay out much more significant benefits in the long run.
We think. We overthink, and we agonize and worry. We look at published novels and finished films and panic that we’ll never be at that level. But even those projects started with a free spark of creativity. A moment where someone said to themselves: “What If….”
Tonight, write something down. An idea that’s been racing around your brain like a caffeinated hamster. A creative endeavor you want to pursue in 2023 that you know you can accomplish if you dig in and focus on what needs to be done.
You have the power, the ability, and the freedom to create, and all it takes is a visit to the Free Library of Creativity inside your imagination.
Make it happen.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
November 6, 2022
Writing Update: NaNoWriMo 2022 – Week #1
Hello! I know it technically hasn’t been a week since NaNoWriMo began. Still, I wanted to update you on my progress and give you insights into some things I’ve also learned so far.
As of this posting, I have written 15,064 words. I’ve been doing my best to write daily for a few hours. Sometimes I can squeeze in an hour; other times, I can do three or more, depending on when I plan to write.
Week One Takeaways
• It’s amazing how much extra time you have to write when you aren’t glued to your phone or tablet, binge-watching a TV show, or doing other unproductive activities. By eliminating these distractions, I could easily find more time each day to write.
• I found writing at night a very productive way to write over multiple days. For example, if I started writing at 11pm on Tuesday and wrote until 1am on Wednesday. I now have written for two hours, but also for two days. This helped keep the daily writing consistent and kept the words flowing.
• Unlike a marathon, it’s okay to leap out of the gate with your writing at full force. If you can write more a day in the first week than the 1,667 words needed to hit 50,000 by the end, do it and keep going. Don’t pull back, and don’t stop once you hit that goal. Eventually, you might hit a creative wall, and those extra words will help you when you do.
• I’m using an outline for my third novel, and I’ve found that what I initially had for the opening once I fleshed it out wasn’t working like I thought it would. No worries. Since your goal is word count, this is a great time to play around and experiment if needed. You can write scenes for your characters that might not end up in the final project but are helping you explore your story and character and increase your word count.
• Even if you write something you don’t like, keep it in for now. Again, while you may be working on a project during NaNoWriMo, your main goal is to hit the magic 50,000-word goal. You can always cut, change, or move things later, but keep writing.
• I have been leaving myself notes in brackets [like these] at the start of each writing session to remind myself of any changes I wish to make to the previous sections I’ve written. That way, I can go back later and fix things.
The main goal is to keep writing and moving forward in your progress. Get through the story from start to finish and edit and change things later.
Keep on writing, and I’ll be back with more updates and maybe an article or two in the next week.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
As of this posting, I have written 15,064 words. I’ve been doing my best to write daily for a few hours. Sometimes I can squeeze in an hour; other times, I can do three or more, depending on when I plan to write.
Week One Takeaways
• It’s amazing how much extra time you have to write when you aren’t glued to your phone or tablet, binge-watching a TV show, or doing other unproductive activities. By eliminating these distractions, I could easily find more time each day to write.
• I found writing at night a very productive way to write over multiple days. For example, if I started writing at 11pm on Tuesday and wrote until 1am on Wednesday. I now have written for two hours, but also for two days. This helped keep the daily writing consistent and kept the words flowing.
• Unlike a marathon, it’s okay to leap out of the gate with your writing at full force. If you can write more a day in the first week than the 1,667 words needed to hit 50,000 by the end, do it and keep going. Don’t pull back, and don’t stop once you hit that goal. Eventually, you might hit a creative wall, and those extra words will help you when you do.
• I’m using an outline for my third novel, and I’ve found that what I initially had for the opening once I fleshed it out wasn’t working like I thought it would. No worries. Since your goal is word count, this is a great time to play around and experiment if needed. You can write scenes for your characters that might not end up in the final project but are helping you explore your story and character and increase your word count.
• Even if you write something you don’t like, keep it in for now. Again, while you may be working on a project during NaNoWriMo, your main goal is to hit the magic 50,000-word goal. You can always cut, change, or move things later, but keep writing.
• I have been leaving myself notes in brackets [like these] at the start of each writing session to remind myself of any changes I wish to make to the previous sections I’ve written. That way, I can go back later and fix things.
The main goal is to keep writing and moving forward in your progress. Get through the story from start to finish and edit and change things later.
Keep on writing, and I’ll be back with more updates and maybe an article or two in the next week.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
